Setting up a research training group (RTG)
Research training groups (RTGs) are institutions at universities to support doctoral and early career researchers. They are funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) for a maximum of 9 years. RTGs provide doctoral qualifications in research programs with a clear thematic focus and a well-structured path to qualifications. They are generally interdisciplinary. The goal is to prepare doctoral researchers intensively for the academic market and to foster academic independence early on.
Tips on applying for an RTG (PDF) provide some help throughout the application procedure.
DFG application procedure
The DFG application procedure is divided into 2 stages. Following a positive review of the application submitted by the expert committee, you will be asked to create an application to set up a group; the proposal will be reviewed by the DFG review committee on site.
International research training groups
Applying for an international research training group requires especially intensive preparation and close consultation with everyone involved. When preparing the application for an international research training group, observe the DFG information about the differences between a DFG-funded international research training group and doctoral research programs offered elsewhere.
Tips on applying
Tips on applying—RTG application proposals and applications for setting up an RTG: https://www.dfg.de/en/research-funding/funding-opportunities/programmes/coordinated-programmes/research-training-groups/forms-guidelines
Tips on applying for an international RTG: https://www.dfg.de/en/research-funding/funding-opportunities/programmes/coordinated-programmes/research-training-groups/international-rtg
Since 6 January 2017, applications for RTG proposals go through the elan portal, which is also used for applications for DFG funding programs for individuals.
Support when applying
The Support of Doctoral and Early Career Researchers Section lends support at all stages of the application procedure. We advise you on developing the application and throughout the internal consultation on your proposal; we ensure the participation and integration of university committees; we correspond with the DFG; and we support you as you prepare for the DFG review process on site.
We are happy to discuss the concrete steps in the RTG application procedure in a personal consultation. Contact us early on.
Ongoing RTGs
DFG research training groups
GRK 2008/1
Interconfessionality in the Early Modern Period
Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Johann Anselm Steiger
Faculty of Humanities
Schlüterstr. 51, 20146 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 42838-9751, anselm.steiger@uni-hamburg.de(anselm.steiger"AT"uni-hamburg.de )
Duration: 1 April 2015–31 March 2024
RTG 2503/1
Collective Decision-Making
Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Anke Gerber
Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Science
Department of Economics
Von-Melle-Park 5, 20146 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 42838-4675, Anke.Gerber"AT"uni-hamburg.de
Duration: 1 October 2020–31 March 2025
RTG 2530/1
Biota-Mediated Effects on Carbon Cycling in Estuaries
Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Kai Jensen
Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences
Department of Biology
Ohnhorststr. 18, 22609 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 42816-576, kai.jensen"AT"uni-hamburg.de
Duration: 1 October 2020–31 March2025
RTG 2536/1
Hybrid Structures on the Nanoscale: Chemical Concepts to Prepare Heterogeneous Nanostructures with Anisotropic Material Properties (NANOHYBRID)
Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Alf Mews
Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences
Department of Chemistry
Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 42838-3431, Alf.Mews"AT"chemie.uni-hamburg.de
Duration: 1 April 2020–30 September 2024
RTG 2583/1
Modeling, Simulation and Optimization of Fluid Dynamic Applications
Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Armin Iske
Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences
Department of Mathematics
Bundesstraße 55, 20146 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 42838-5264, armin.iske"AT"uni-hamburg.de
Duration: 1 April 2020–30 September 2024
RTG 2753/1
Emotional Learning and Memory
Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Lars Schwabe
Faculty of Psychology and Human Movement
Department of Psychology
Von-Melle-Park 5, 20146 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 42838-5950, Lars.Schwabe"AT"uni-hamburg.de
Duration: 1 March 2022–31 August 2026
CRC 2725/1
Urban Future-Making: Professional Agency across Time and Scale
Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Monika Grubbauer, HafenCity University Hamburg
Participating PIs from Universität Hamburg: Prof. Dr. Katharina Manderscheid, Jun. Prof. Dr. Franziska Müller
Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences Fachbereiche Sozialökonomie und Sozialwissenschaften
Von-Melle-Park 5, 20146 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 42838-8661, katharina.manderscheid"AT"uni-hamburg.de, franziska.mueller"AT"uni-hamburg.de
Duration: 1 April 2022–30 September 2026
RTG 2771/1
Humans and Microbes: Reorganisation of Cell Compartments and Molecular Complexes during Infection
Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Martin Aepfelbacher
Faculty of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene
Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 7410-53150, m.aepfelbacher"AT"uke.uni-hamburg.de
Duration: 1 November 2022–31 October 2027
CRC 2887/1
VISualization and Imaging of Virus InfectION (VISION)
Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Thomas Krey, Universität zu Lübeck
Co-spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Kay Grünewald
Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 8998-87700, kay.gruenewald"AT"uni-hamburg.de
Duration: 1 October 2023–30 September 2028
CRC 2805/1
Managerial and Economic Dimensions of Health-Care Quality
Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Tom Stargardt
Hamburg Center for Health Economics
Esplanade 36, 20354 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 42838 9299, teamassistenz.hcm"AT"uni-hamburg.de
Duration: 1 October 2023– 30 September 2028
Hamburg state research funding program (Landesforschungsförderung)
Das Recht und seine Lehre in der digitalen Transformation
Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Hans-Heinrich Trute
Faculty of Law
Rothenbaumchaussee 33, 20148 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 42838-5721, hans-heinrich.trute@jura.uni-hamburg.d(hans-heinrich.trute"AT"jura.uni-hamburg.de)e
Innovative Technologies in Cancer Diagnostics and Therapy
Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Gunhild von Amsberg
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
II. Medical Clinic and Polyclinic (oncology, hematology, bone marrow transplants with the Department of Pulmonology)
Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 7410-57774; g.von-amsberg"AT"uke.de
Democratising Security in Turbulent Times
Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Ursula Schröder
Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences
Department of Social Sciences
Beim Schlump 83, 20144 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 866077-10; ursula.schroeder@uni-hamburg.de
Completed RTGs
RTG 235: Physics of Nanostructured Solids Spokesperson Wolfgang Hansen Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences Department of Physics Funding from 1996 to 2005
RTG 255: Signal Transduction in the Nervous System and its Pathology Spokeswoman Melitta Schachner Faculty of Medicine Funding from 1996 to 2004
RTG 336: Molecular Endocrinology—Molecular Metabolism Spokesperson Hans-Joachim Seitz Faculty of Medicine Funding from 1997 to 2006
RTG 431: Conservation Principles in the Modeling and Simulation of Marine, Atmospheric and Technical Systems Spokesperson Jens Struckmeier Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences Department of Mathematics Funding from 1999 to 2004
RTG 463: Spectroscopy of Localized Atomic Systems. Fields and Localized Atoms? Atoms and Localized Fields Spokesperson Günter Huber Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences Department of Physics Funding from 1999 to 2005
RTG 464: Glycoconjugates: Synthesis, Analysis, Structure and Function Spokesperson Bernd Meyer Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences Department of Chemistry Funding from 1999 to 2004
RTG 497: Law and Economics: Possible Extensions of Civil Law and New Forms of Cooperation in Private Organisations Spokesperson Hans-Bernd Schäfer Faculty of Law Funding from 1998 to 2007
RTG 602: Future Developments in Particle Physics Spokesperson Jochen Bartels Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences Department of Physics Funding from 2000 to 2009
RTG 611: Design and Characterization of Functional Materials Spokesperson Michael Fröba Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences Department of Chemistry Funding from 2001 to 2009
RTG 821: Research on Educational Experience and Learner Development Spokesperson Meinert A. Meyer Faculty of Education Funding from 2002 to 2008
RTG 1247: Cross-Modal Interaction in Natural and Artificial Cognitive Systems (CINACS) Spokesperson Jianwei Zhang Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences Department of Informatics Funding from 2006 to 2015
RTG 1286: Functional Metal-Semiconductor Hybrid Systems Spokesperson Ulrich Merkt Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences Department of Physics Funding from 2006 to 2015
RTG 1351: Extrasolar Planets and their Host Stars Spokesperson Jürgen H.M.M. Schmitt Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences Department of Physics Funding from 2007 to 2015
RTG 1355: Physics with New Advanced Coherent Radiation Sources Spokesperson Klaus Sengstock Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences Department of Physics Funding from 2006 to 2015
RTG 1459: Sorting and Interactions Between Proteins of Subcellular Compartments Spokesperson Thomas Braulke Faculty of Medicine Funding from 2008 to 2017
RTG 1597: Economics of Internationalization of Law Spokesperson Stefan Voigt Faculty of Law Funding from 2010 to 2019
RTG 1670: Mathematics Inspired by String Theory and QFT Spokesperson Christoph Schweigert Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences Department of Mathematics Funding from 2011 to 2020